The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Deputy Secretary General, M Satyanarayan, has voiced his disappointment over the Indian men's football team's absence from the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Japan. The team failed to meet the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' selection criteria, which mandates a top-eight ranking in Asia for participation.
Reasons for Exclusion
Speaking with ANI, Satyanarayan highlighted that several Asian nations have surpassed India due to superior infrastructure, training, and player quality. He also noted that prolonged legal disputes have hampered Indian football's progress. "We are disappointed that we are not there at the Asian Games. In Asia, however, there are 47 countries, and at least 15 of them are ahead of us because they have better infrastructure, higher-quality training, and stronger players. Over half of the time, we have been involved in court cases and related issues. Hopefully, that will not be the case in the future because of the new Governance Act," he said.
Press Conference and ISL Developments
AIFF and the Managing Committee of the Indian Super League (ISL), represented by FC Goa, NorthEast United FC, and Sporting Club Delhi, held a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. The event was addressed by M Satyanarayan, Akshay Rohatgi (Head of Competitions, AIFF), Ravi Puskur (CEO, FC Goa), Mandar Tamhane (CEO, NorthEast United FC), and Dhruv Sood (CEO, Sporting Club Delhi). It was announced that clubs will hold commercial rights for the ISL going forward, while AIFF retains administrative control and oversight, adopting a club-led commercial model common globally.
Club-Led Model and Future Plans
Satyanarayan emphasized commitment to making the league one of the best in Asia, keeping in mind the Supreme Court's order and the new National Sports Governance Act. Dhruv Sood noted that in SC Delhi's first season, the Ministry offered full support regarding stadium availability, and AIFF reduced league costs. Mandar Tamhane explained the shift to a broadcast-driven, club-led model for long-term commercial and financial sustainability.
The clubs and Managing Committee will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure a broadcast partner and work on sponsorships. AIFF will send letters to all 14 clubs to confirm participation. The 2026-27 season will follow a home-and-away format. "We will have a full-fledged season where every team will play their respective home and away games in a full quota rather than having to play a truncated format. We look forward to working collectively with the AIFF to try and ensure that the league is as successful as it can be," said Ravi Puskur.
Player Release for National Team
The league calendar will be planned around FIFA Men's International Match Windows (September, October, November, March) and AFC club competition schedules to ensure optimal preparations for the national team and participating clubs (FC Goa and East Bengal FC) in continental competitions. Satyanarayan stated that discussions with clubs have taken place to release players for longer periods in the 'National Interest,' hoping for cooperation now that the league is jointly run by clubs and AIFF.
